Antifungal antibiotics

ABSTRACT

Novel antibiotic herein designated as BU-3608, BU-3608 B, and BU-3608 C are produced by fermentation of Actinomadura hibisca Strain No. P157-2, ATCC 53557, and Strain No. Q278-4, ATCC 53646. The antibiotics possess antifungal and antiviral activities.

This application is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 366,573 filed Jun. 15, 1989 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,497, which is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 115,273 filed Nov. 2, 1987 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,165, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 010,058, filed Feb. 2, 1987, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel antibiotics BU-3608, BU-3608B, and BU-3608C having antifungal and antiviral activities and are useful for treating fungal and viral infections in animals and human beings; to a pharmaceutical composition thereof; to a process for production thereof by fermentation of new microorganisms Actinomadura hibisca sp. nov. Strain No. P157-2, ATCC 53557 and Strain No. Q278-4, ATCC 53646; and to the new microoganisms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides compounds having the formula III ##STR1## wherein R¹ is H and R² is β-D-xylosyl; or R¹ is methyl and R² is H or β-D-xylosyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or an ester thereof.

β-D-xylosyl is the fragment. ##STR2##

The numbering system for the aglycone portion is given below in Formula IV.

A further aspect of the present invention provides an intermediate having the Formula IV ##STR3## or a salt thereof, or an ester thereof.

Another aspect of the invention provides a process for the production of an antibiotic of formula III by fermentation of an antibiotic-producing strain of Actinomadura hibisca.

A further aspect of the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibiotic of formula III and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Yet a further aspect of the invention provides a method for treating animal and human fungal infections by administering to the afflicted host an effective amount of an antibiotic of Formula III.

Yet a further aspect of the invention provides a method for treating animal and human viral infections by administering to the afflicted host an effective amount of an antibiotic of Formula III.

This invention also provides microorganisms Actinomadura hibisca sp. nov. having the identifying characteristics of Strain No. P157-2, ATCC 53557; and an actinomycete having the characteristics of Strain No. Q278-4, ATCC 53646.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 represents a 80 MHz proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of BU-3608 in deuterated water and sodium hydroxide-d₁ (D₂ O+NaOD).

FIG. 2 represents a 400 MHz proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of BU-3608 B in dimethyl sulfoxide-d₆.

FIG. 3 represents a 400 MHz proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of BU-3608 C in dimethyl sulfoxide-d₆.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION ANTIBIOTICS

The antibiotic provided by the present invention and designated BU-3608 is characterized in its free form by the following physico-chemical properties:

Color and form: Red amorphous powder

Melting point: 193°-195° C.

Optical rotation: [α]_(D) ²⁶ +685° (c 0.1, 0.1N HCl)

Solubility: Soluble in dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethyl formamide, acidic and alkaline water. Slightly soluble in water, methanol, and ethanol. Insoluble in ethyl acetate, chloroform, benzene, n-hexane, and petroleum ether.

IR (KBr): 3340, 3240, 2400, 1720, 1610, 1390, 1295, 1055, 910 cm⁻¹.

UV λmax nm (ε): in 50% MeOH: 231 (28,400), 284 (22,700), 481 (9,600) in 0.01N HCl-MeOH: 234 (31,300), 299 (26,700), 459 (11,100) in 0.01N NaOH-MeOH: 240 (33,400), 318 (14,700), 499 (15,100)

Elemental analysis: C, 52.99%; H, 5.18%; N, 3.11%

Secondary ion mass spectrum: m/z 843 (M+3H)⁺

Molecular formula: C₄₀ H₄₄ N₂ O₁₈

Thin-layer chromatography: R_(f) 0.36 (SiO₂, MeOAc-n-PrOH-28% NH₄ OH=45:105:60)

¹ H NMR (80 MHz, D₂ O+NaOD): substantially as shown in FIG. 1.

¹³ C NMR (100 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ ppm 187.45(s), 180.55(s), 174.58(s), 168.88(s), 166.41(s), 166.01(s), 164.12(s), 157.62(s), 143.71(s), 138.04(s), 137.67(s), 136.53(s), 133.10(s), 132.20(s), 126.94(s), 119.29(s), 119.01(s), 116.94(s), 111.60(d), 110.45(s), 106.29(d), 105.29(d), 104.48(d), 104.36(d), 82.68(d), 80.43(d), 76.08(d), 73.77(d), 71.93(d), 70.15(d), 69.57(d), 67.88(d), 65.99(t), 63.37(d), 56.22(q), 48.19(d), 36.63(q), 19.98(q), 17.61(q), 16.36(q)

The structure of BU-3608 has been established based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS) analyses of the antibiotic itself as well as its chemical degradation products. The structure of BU-3608 is given below as formula V. BU-3608 is a unique molecule composed of D-alanine, D-xylose, D-4,6-dideoxy-4-methylaminogalactose, and a polysubstituted dihydrobenz[a]naphthacenequinone chromophore. ##STR4##

Two minor components have also been isolated from the fermentation broth of Strain P157-2. These compounds are designated BU-3608 B and BU-3608 C and are characterized by the following physico-chemical properties.

    ______________________________________                                                      BU-3608 B  BU-3608 C                                              ______________________________________                                         Color and form:                                                                               dark red powder                                                                             dark red powder                                    Melting point (dec.):                                                                         195-198° C.                                                                          220-225° C.                                 Optical rotation:                                                                             [α].sub.D.sup.26 + 440°                                                        [α].sub.D.sup.24 + 619°                              (C 0.1, 0.1N HCl)                                                                           (C 0.1, 0.1N HCl)                                  SIMS m/z:      711 (M + 3H).sup.+                                                                          827 (M + H).sup.+                                  Mol. formula:  C.sub.35 H.sub.36 N.sub.2 O.sub.14                                                          C.sub.39 H.sub.42 N.sub.2 O.sub.18                 UV λ max (ε):                                                                  234 (30,100) 230 (24,800)                                       B: in MeOH     286 (24,100) 285 (19,700)                                       C: in 50% MeOH 473 (10,100) 482 (8,400)                                        B: in 0.01N HCl-MeOH                                                                          234 (31,100) 233 (31,000)                                       C: in 0.01N HCl-50%                                                                           296 (27,500) 297 (26,300)                                       MeOH           460 (11,100) 459 (10,900)                                       B: in 0.01N NaOH-MeOH                                                                         241 (33,300) 241 (30,600)                                       C: in 0.01N NaOH-50%                                                                          316 (14,200) 320 (13,800)                                       MeOH           504 (15,000) 499 (13,600)                                       IR (KBr) cm.sup.-1 :                                                                          3400, 1600, 1450,                                                                           3400-3200, 1605,                                                  1390, 1295, 1260,                                                                           1390, 1295, 1260,                                                 1060         1140                                               TLC:           Rf 0.48      Rf 0.32                                            (SiO.sub.2, MeOAc-n-PrOH-28% NH.sub.4 OH = 45:105:60 v/v)                      HPLC Rt (min.):                                                                               21.8         14.0                                               (ODS, CH.sub.3 CN-0.15% KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4 = 7:17, pH 3.5)                      .sup.1 H NMR:  substantially as                                                                            substantially as                                   (400 MHz, DMSO-d.sub.6)                                                                       shown in FIG. 2                                                                             shown in FIG. 3                                    .sup.13 C NMR δ ppm:                                                                    16.3, 17.3, 20.0                                                                            16.4, 17.5, 19.9,                                  (100 MHz, DMSO-d.sub.6)                                                                       36.8, 47.7, 55.9                                                                            48.0, 54.3, 56.0,                                                 64.0, 67.9, 71.0                                                                            65.8, 67.6, 69.4,                                                 71.2, 71.8, 82.1                                                                            69.8, 71.9, 73.5,                                                 104.0, 104.8,                                                                               76.0, 79.8, 82.5,                                                 105.9, 110.2,                                                                               104.3, 104.4, 105.1,                                              111.0, 116.7,                                                                               106.0, 110.3, 111.2,                                              118.8, 119.0,                                                                               116.8, 118.8, 119.0,                                              126.6, 131.9,                                                                               126.9, 132.0, 133.0,                                              133.2, 136.3,                                                                               136.3, 137.5, 137.8,                                              137.6, 137.9,                                                                               143.6, 157.5, 163.9,                                              143.6, 157.3,                                                                               165.8, 166.5, 168.2,                                              163.9, 165.7,                                                                               174.5, 180.3, 187.2                                               166.7, 168.2,                                                                  174.3, 180.2,                                                                  187.3                                                           ______________________________________                                    

The structures of BU-3608 B and BU-3608 C have also been determined and are given as formulas VI and VII, respectively. ##STR5##

Included within the scope of the present invention are the base salts, acid addition salts and internal salts of BU-3608, BU-3608 B, and BU-3608 C. The base salts may be obtained by treating the antibiotics with an organic or inorganic base, for example, sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, or an amine base such as methylamine, methylethylamine, triethylamine, and pyridine. The acid addition salts may be prepared by addition of a conventionally acceptable acid such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and the like. A preferred base is sodium hydroxide, and a preferred acid is hydrochloric acid. Also included are physiologically hydrolyzable esters of BU-3608, BU-3608 B, and BU-3608 C which may be prepared using conventional methods well known to those skilled in the art of organic synthesis. The carboxylic acid may react with an alcohol, preferably in the presence of a condensing agent such as dicyclohexylcarbondiimide; or the carboxyl group may be first activated to the corresponding acyl halide, an anhydride, or an active ester or amide. These active acylating agents may then react with the desired alcohol under appropriate reaction conditions to provide the corresponding esters.

The antibiotics of the present invention may be produced by cultivating an antibiotic producing strain of Actinomadura hibisca sp. nov. Strain No. P157-2 isolated from a soil sample collected on Fiji Island in the South Pacific. A biologically pure culture of Actinomadura hibisca sp. nov. Strain No. P157-2 has been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, MD, and added to their permanent collection of microorganisms as ATCC 53557. Strain P157-2 produces BU-3608 as a major metabolite, and BU-3608 B and BU-3608 C are co-produced as minor components. Subsequent to our previous application, a new actinomycete Strain No. Q278-4 was isolated from a soil sample collected in Andhra Pradesh State, India which produces as major active components antibiotic BU-3608 and BU-3608 C, as well as BU-3608 B as a minor component. Taxonomic study indicates that Strain Q278-4 can be classified as Actinomadura hibisca. A biologically pure culture of this microorganism has also been deposited with the ATCC, and assigned the accession number ATCC 53646.

Antibiotic BU-3608 B may also be obtained from BU-3608. Thus acidic methanolysis of BU-3608 yields the methyl ester of BU-3608 B and methyl D-xyloside; the former fragment affords BU-3608 B upon saponification.

BU-3608, BU-3608 B, and BU-3608 C produce the aglycone of formula IV when subjected to acid degradation using concentrated HCl. Compound IV (hereinafter referred to as AG-2) may be used as an intermediate in the synthesis of antibiotics of this invention and derivatives thereof.

The preparation comprises the steps of condensing AG-2, preferably with the non-reacting phenolic hydroxyl groups and the carboxylic acid moiety protected, with a reactive derivative of a protected amino sugar; removing the protecting groups; and isolating the glycoside product having the desired β-linkage. The product having the desired glycosidic linkage may alternatively be isolated prior to the deprotection step. Protection and deprotection of the functional groups may be effected using standard techniques taught in reference works such as "Protective Groups in Organic Chemistry" by J. F. W. McOmie, Plenum Press, 1973. In general, hydroxyl groups may be conveniently converted into ethers, acetals/ketals, or esters; carboxyl groups are commonly esterified; and amino groups may be converted into amides, ureas, or urethanes. The choice of protecting groups will depend on the exact structures of the starting materials and the final product so that the introduction and removal of the protecting group will not adversely affect the integrity of the rest of the molecule, and also on the reaction conditions the protected compound must tolerate. The protected amino sugar is transformed into a reactive derivative, for example, by treatment with thionyl chloride; the 1-chloro sugar thus formed may be used in situ. The condensation reaction may be effected in inert organic solvent and preferably in the presence of an agent having high affinity for halides, such as silver ion.

PRODUCING ORGANISMS

Characteristics of Actinomadura hibisca strain P157-2 and strain Q278-4 are described in detail herein below.

MORPHOLOGY

Strain P157-2 forms branching hyphae (0.5 to 0.7 μm in width) which develop into substrate and aerial mycelia. Both types of mycelium are long, well-branched, and are not fragmented into rod or coccoid elements. Long (10 to 50 spores per chain) straight chains of spores are formed throughout the aerial mycelium. The spores are oval and cylindrical in shape, 0.4 to 0.6 by 0.7 to 1.2 μm in size, non-motile, and have smooth surfaces. Under photomicroscope, a small globose body (2 to 5 μm in diameter) is observed intercalary between or at the tip of the straight spore chains. The globule is determined to be fused coil of the spore chain using scanning electron microscopy. Zigzag hyphae are not observed.

Strain Q278-4 forms branching hyphae which develop into substrate and aerial mycelia. Both types of mycelium are not fragmented into rod or coccoid elements. Long straight chains of spores (10 to 50 spores per chain) are formed in whole parts of the aerial mycelium. The spores are arranged continuously or with intercalation of empty hyphae. A fused coil of sproe chain is occasionally observed intercalary between or at tip of long chains, which is seen photomicroscopically as a small globose body (1.5 to 4 μm in diameter). The spores are oval to cylindrical (0.4 to 0.6 by 0.7 to 1.5 μm), non-motile, and have smooth surface.

CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS

The cultural characteristics and carbon source utilization are studied by the methods of Shirling and Gottlieb, Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 16: 313-340, 1966.

Strain P157-2 grows abundantly on glucose-asparagine agar, moderately in natural organic media such as nutrient agar, Bennett's agar, ISP (International Streptomyces Project) Medium Nos. 1, 2, and 6, and poorly in chemically defined media such as sucrose-nitrate agar, ISP Medium Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 7. White aerial mycelium is formed moderately on ISP Medium No. 2, but sparsely on ISP Medium Nos. 3, 4, and 5, and Bennett's agar; pinkish gray aerial mycelium is formed on VDYA agar. Strain P157-2 produces deep red diffusible pigment in many media including ISP Medium Nos. 1, 2, and 6, glucose-asparagine agar, nutrient agar, and Bennett's agar and a brown diffusible pigment in tyrosine agar.

Strain Q278-4 grows poorly in most chemically defined media, and moderately in glucose-asparagine agar and nutritionally rich organic media. The color of aerial mycelium is white but turns to gray on tyrosine agar. Deep red to dark pink, diffusible pigments are produced in all media. In addition, a purplish diffusible pigment is coproduced in Czapek's sucrose-nitrate agar and glucose-asparagine agar, and a brown pigment in tyrosine agar.

The cultural characteristics of Strain P157-2 and Strain Q278-4 are shown in Table I.

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                         Cultural Characteristics of Strain P157-2* and Strain Q278-4*                  Medium        Strain P157-2                                                                               Strain Q278-4                                       ______________________________________                                         Sucrose-nitrate                                                                           **G:   scant        poor                                            agar (Czapek-Dox                                                                          A:     none         none                                            agar)      S:     white to     colorless to pale                                                 pinkish white                                                                               purplish pink                                                     (9)***       (252)                                                      D:     pale yellowish                                                                              pale purplish                                                     pink (31)    pink (252)                                      Tryptone-yeast                                                                            G:     moderate; not                                                                               moderate, floccose                              extract broth     turbid       and not turbid                                  (ISP No. 1)                                                                               A:     none         none                                                       S:     very deep    dark red (16)                                                     red (14)                                                                D:     very deep    very deep red (14)                                                red (14)                                                     Yeast extract-                                                                            G:     moderate     good                                            malt extract agar                                                                         A:     moderate; white                                                                             moderate; white                                 (ISP No. 2)                                                                               S:     very deep    deep red (13)                                                     red (14)                                                                D:     very dark    very dark red (17)                                                red (17)                                                     Oatmeal agar                                                                              G:     poor         poor                                            (ISP No. 3)                                                                               A:     scant; white poor; white                                                S:     colorless to colorless to deep                                                 pale pink (9)                                                                               red (13)                                                   D:     light pink (4)                                                                              dark pink (6)                                   Inorganic salts-                                                                          G:     scant        poor                                            starch agar                                                                               A:     scant; white poor; white                                     (ISP No. 4)                                                                               S:     colorless to grayish red (19)                                                  pale pink (9)                                                           D:     pale yellowish                                                                              colorless                                                         pink (31)                                                    Glycerol-  G:     poor         poor                                            asparagine agar                                                                           A:     scant; white none                                            (ISP No. 5)                                                                               S:     colorless to light grayish                                                     light pink (4)                                                                              red (18)                                                   D:     moderate yellow-                                                                            light yellowish                                                   ish pink (29)                                                                               pink (28)                                       Peptone-yeast                                                                             G:     moderate     good                                            extract-iron agar                                                                         A:     none         none                                            (ISP No. 6)                                                                               S:     very dark    dark red (16)                                                     red (17)                                                                D:     very dark    very dark red (17)                                                red (17)                                                     Tyrosine agar                                                                             G:     poor         poor                                            (ISP No. 7)                                                                               A:     very scant;  poor; white, later                                                white        light gray (264)                                           S:     light brown (57)                                                                            dark reddish brown                                                             (44)                                                       D:     deep brown (59)                                                                             dark grayish                                                                   reddish brown (47)                              Glucose-   G:     abundant     moderate                                        asparagine agar                                                                           A:     none         none                                                       S:     very deep    dark red (16),                                                    red (14)     later dark grayish                                                             purple (229)                                               D:     very dark    grayish purplish                                                  red (17)     pink (253)                                      Nutrient agar                                                                             G:     moderate     moderate                                                   A:     none         none                                                       S:     moderate     moderate red (15)                                                 red (15)                                                                D:     dark red (16)                                                                               deep red (13)                                                     to blackish                                                                    red (21)                                                     Bennett's agar                                                                            G:     moderate     moderate                                                   A:     scant; white poor; white                                                S:     moderate red deep red (13)                                                     (15)                                                                    D:     very deep    very dark red (17)                                                red (14)                                                     VDYA agar  G:     moderate                                                                A:     moderate;                                                                      pinkish gray (10)                                                       S:     very deep                                                                      red (14)                                                                D:     very dark                                                                      red (17)                                                     ______________________________________                                          *Observation after incubation at 28° C. for 3 weeks.                    **Abbreviations: G = growth; A = aerial mycelium; S = substrate mycelium;      D = diffusible pigment.                                                        ***Color and number in parenthesis follow the color standard in "Kelly, K      L. and D. B. Judd: ISCCNBS colorname charts illustrated with Centroid          Colors. U.S. Dept. of Comm. Cir. 553, Washington, D.C., Nov. 1975".      

PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The growth of strain P157-2 is inhibited in 5% NaCl but not in 3% NaCl. The growth temperature ranges from 18° to 40° C. Tyrosinase activity is negative. Among 25 carbohydrates, D-ribose, D-glucose, sucrose, cellobiose, trehalose, and salicin are utilized for growth, whereas glycerol, L-arabinose, D-xylose, L-rhamnose, D-galactose, D-fructose, D-mannose, raffinose, and D-sorbitol are not.

The physiological characteristics and carbon source utilization patterns of Strain P157-2 and Strain Q278-4 are listed side-by-side in Tables II and III, respectively. Additional characteristics including the metabolic reactions on nucleic acid bases, organic acids, and carbohydrates have been determined by the methods described in Gordon, R. E. et al, J. Gen. Microb., 109: 69-78, 1978; these are shown in Table IV.

                  TABLE II                                                         ______________________________________                                         Physiological Characteristics of                                               Strain P157-2 and Strain Q278-4                                                               STRAIN    STRAIN                                                               Q278-4    P157-2                                                ______________________________________                                         Hydrolysis of:                                                                 Gelatin          +           +                                                 Starch           -           -                                                 Milk coagulation -           -                                                 peptonization    +           +                                                 Production of:                                                                 Nitrate reductase                                                                               +, +        -, +*                                             Tyrosinase       -           -                                                 Tolerance to:                                                                  Lysozyme, 0.01% (w/v)                                                                           +           +                                                 NaCl, 3% (w/v)   +           +                                                 5% (w/v)         + (weak)    -                                                 Growth at:                                                                     pH 5.0-12.0      +           +                                                 pH 4.5, 12.5     -           -                                                 Temperature:                                                                   Growth range     16° C.-43° C.                                                                18° C.-40° C.                       No growth        14° C.,                                                                             15° C.,                                                     45° C.                                                                              43° C.                                     ______________________________________                                          *Negative in Czapek's sucrosenitrate broth, and positive in peptonenitrat      broth.                                                                   

                  TABLE III                                                        ______________________________________                                         Carbon Source Utilization of                                                   Strain P157-2* and Strain Q278-4*                                                            Strain  Strain                                                                 Q278-4  P157-2                                                   ______________________________________                                         Utilization of:                                                                Glycerol        -         -                                                    D-Arabinose     -         -                                                    L-Arabinose     -         -                                                    D-Xylose        -         -                                                    D-Ribose        +         +                                                    L-Rhamnose      -         -                                                    D-Glucose       +         +                                                    D-Galactose     +         -                                                    D-Fructose      + (weak)  -                                                    D-Mannose       -         -                                                    L-Sorbose       -         -                                                    Sucrose         +         +                                                    Lactose         -         -                                                    Cellobiose      +         +                                                    Melibiose       -         -                                                    Trehalose       +         +                                                    Raffinose       -         -                                                    D-Melezitose    + (weak)  -                                                    Soluble starch  +         -                                                    Cellulose       -         -                                                    Dulcitol        -         -                                                    Inositol        -         -                                                    D-Mannitol      -         + (weak)                                             D-Sorbitol      -         -                                                    Salicin         + (weak)  +                                                    ______________________________________                                          *Observation after incubation at 28° C. for 3 weeks. Basal medium:      PridhamGottlieb's medium (ISP Medium No. 9) with CuSO.sub.4.7H.sub.2 O         omitted. Symbols: + = utilization; - = no utilization.                   

                  TABLE IV                                                         ______________________________________                                         ADDITIONAL PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF                                    STRAIN Q278-4 and STRAIN P157-2                                                                 STRAIN STRAIN                                                                  Q278-4 P157-2                                                 ______________________________________                                         Hydrolysis of:                                                                 Adenine            +        +                                                  Casein             +        +                                                  Esculine           +        +                                                  Hippuric acid      -        -                                                  Hypoxanthine       +        +                                                  Tyrosine           +        +                                                  Urea               -        -                                                  Xanthine           -        -                                                  Survival at 50° C., 8 hr                                                                   +        +                                                  Utilization of:                                                                Benzoate           -        -                                                  Citrate            -        -                                                  Mucate             -        -                                                  Succinate          + (w)    -                                                  Tartrate           -        -                                                  Acid from:                                                                     Glycerol           -        -                                                  D-Arabinose        -        -                                                  L-Arabinose        -        -                                                  D-Xylose           -        -                                                  L-Rhamnose         -        -                                                  D-Glucose          +        +                                                  D-Mannose          -        -                                                  Lactose            -        -                                                  Cellobiose         +        +                                                  Melibiose          -        -                                                  Trehalose          +        +                                                  Raffinose          -        -                                                  D-Melezitose       -        -                                                  Inositol           -        -                                                  D-Mannitol         -        -                                                  D-Sorbitol         -        -                                                  Erythritol         -        -                                                  Adonitol           -        -                                                  Methyl α-glucoside                                                                          -        -                                                  ______________________________________                                    

CHEMOTAXONOMY

Diagnostic amino acid and sugar in whole cell hydrolysate are analyzed by the methods described in Becker B. et al, Appl. Microbiol., 12: 421-423, 1964. Phospholipid and mycolate are analyzed by methods described in Lechevalier, M.P. et al, Biochem. Syst. Ecol., 5: 249-260, 1977 and in Minnikin D. E. et al, J. Gen. Microbiol., 88: 200-204, 1975. Menaquinone is determined by the method of Collins M. D. et al, J. Gen. Microbiol., 100: 221-230, 1977. The presence of meso-diaminopimelic acid, galactose, and a small amount of madurose in the whole cell hydrolysate of strain P157-2 indicates the strain as an actinomycete of cell wall type III and sugar pattern B. The strain has type PI phospholipids and contains MK-9(H₆) as the major menaquinone. Glycolate test is negative. Mycolate is absent.

The whole cell hydrolysate of strain Q278-4 contains meso-diaminopimelic acid, glucose, and madurose. This pattern is indicative of type III cell wall and sugar pattern B. The strain has type I phospholipids containing phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylinositol but lacking nitrogenous phospholipids.

The morphology, cultural and physiological characteristics, and cell chemistry of strain P157-2 place it in the genus Actinomadura. Among the previously described species of genus Actinomadura, A. luzonensis, A. kijaniata, A. albolutes, and A. oligospora are similar to strain P157-2 in the formation of long spore chains (10 to 50 spores per chain). However, these four species are different from strain P157-2 in the following characteristics: A. luzonensis forms predominantly short hook spore chains; contains mannose in the whole cell hydrolysate; and utilizes arabinose, glycerol, inositol, mannitol, mannose, rhamnose, and xylose, but not cellobiose. A. kijaniata forms flexuous or spiral spore chains and greenish aerial and substrate mycelia; does not produce a red pigment; and hydrolyzes urea, xanthine, adonitol, arabinose, glycerol, inositol, mannose, rhamnose and xylose. A. albolutea has Type PIV phospholipid; does not produce a red pigment; utilizes arabinose, mannitol, rhamnose and xylose; and does not reduce nitrate to nitrite. A. oligospora contains mannose in the whole cell hydrolysate; does not produce a red pigment; decomposes urea but not adenine, hypoxanthine or tyrosine; and does not reduce nitrate to nitrite.

A. pelletieri and A. macra are related to strain P157-2 from a numerical taxonomy viewpoint. They are differentiated from strain P157-2 by the following characteristics: almost all strains of A. pelletieri are asporogenic. If a spore was formed, only short spore chain is observed on rudimentary aerial mycelium. A. pelletieri does not hydrolyze adenine, esculin or cellobiose, and is sensitive to lysozyme. A. macra forms short spore chain and sparse aerial mycelium; produces a black pigment in ISP Medium Nos. 2 and 3; does not produce a red pigment in any media; and lacks the ability to hydrolyze casein, esculin and cellobiose.

Strain P157-2 produces red benzonaphthacene pigments with antifungal and antiviral activities in both natural organic media and chemically defined media. This class of pigment is unrelated to the previously described red pigments of Actinomadura species, including prodigiosins and anthracyclines.

Thus, Strain P157-2 is considered to be a heretofore undescribed species of the genus Actinomadura, for which the name A. hibisca sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is No. P157-2.

The major characteristics of Strain Q278-4 place it in the genus Actinomadura. Strain Q278-4 is most similar to A. hibisca; however, Strain Q278-4 may be differentiated from Strain P157-2 in producing a purplish pigment in a few media along with reddish pigments in all media. The physiological characteristics of the two strains also differ as shown in Tables II to IV; however, the differences are not considered enough for separate species. Thus, Strain Q278-4 can be classified as a new strain of A. hibisca.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to use of the particular Strain P157-2 or Q278-4 or to organisms fully answering the above description. It is especially intended to include other BU-3608 producing strains or mutants or variants of said organisms which can be produced from the described organisms by known means such as X-ray radiation, ultraviolet radiation, treatment with nitrogen mustard, phage exposure, and the like.

ANTIBIOTIC PRODUCTION

The antibiotics of the present invention are produced by cultivating Actinomadura hibisca Strain No. P157-2 or Strain Q278-4, or a mutant or a variant thereof, in a conventional aqueous medium. The organism is grown in a nutrient medium containing known nutritional sources for actinomycetes, i.e. assimilable sources of carbon and nitrogen plus optional inorganic salts and other known growth factors. Submerged aerobic conditions are preferably employed for the production of large quantities of antibiotic, although for production of limited amounts, surface cultures and bottles may also be used. The general procedures used for the cultivation of other actinomycetes are applicable to the present invention.

The nutrient medium should contain an appropriate assimilable carbon source such as ribose, glucose, sucrose, cellobiose. As nitrogen source, ammonium chloride, ammonium sulfate, urea, ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate, etc. may be used either alone or in combination with organic nitrogen sources such as peptone, fish meat extract, yeast extract, corn steep liquor, soybean powder, cotton seed flour, etc. There may also be added if necessary nutrient inorganic salts to provide sources of sodium, potassium, calcium, ammonium, phosphate, sulfate, chloride, bromide, carbonate, zinc, magnesium, manganese, cobalt, iron, and the like.

It has been noted that the composition of the nutrient medium for Strain Q278-4 may be chosen to favor the production of either BU-3608 C or BU-3608. For example, addition of an appropriate amount of ammonium sulfate to a BU-3608 producing medium increases the level of BU-3608 C, relative to the level of BU-3608.

Production of antibiotics BU-3608, BU-3608 B, and BU-3608 C may be effected at any temperature conducive to satisfactory growth of the producing organism, e.g. 25°-40° C. and is most conveniently carried out at a temperature of around 27°-32° C. Ordinarily, optimum antibiotic production is obtained in shake flasks after incubation periods of 5-8 days. Aeration in shake flasks is achieved by agitation, e.g. shaking on a rotary shaker. If fermentation is to be carried out in tank fermentors, it is desirable to produce a vegetative inoculum in a nutrient broth by inoculating the broth culture from a slant culture or a lyophilized culture of the organism. After obtaining an active inoculum in this manner, it is aseptically transferred to the fermentation tank medium. Antibiotic production in tank fermentors usually reaches the optimum after 3-6 days of incubation. Agitation in the tank fermentor is provided by stirring and aeration may be achieved by injection of air or oxygen into the agitated mixture. Antibiotic production may be monitored using chromatographic or spectroscopic techniques, or by a conventional biological assay.

ISOLATION AND PURIFICATION OF ANTIBIOTICS

The antibiotics of the present invention may be recovered from the cultivated broth by any suitable method for such recovery. A general scheme for one such method for the isolation and purification of antibiotic BU-3608 from the fermentation broth of Strain P157-2 is shown below as Scheme I. ##STR6##

To elaborate on the flow chart of Scheme I, whole fermentation broth is separated into mycelial cake and supernatant by a conventional method such as centrifugation. The supernatant is acidified and the precipitate thus formed is removed. The filtrate is adjusted to pH 5 to deposit crude antibiotic which is collected and partitioned between an water immiscible organic solvent and an aqueous phase; an example of such a solvent system is n-butanol-methanol-1% NaCl mixture. The aqueous phase is separated, acidified, and extracted with an organic solvent such as n-butanol. The extract is concentrated in vacuo and lyophilized to yield semi-pure hydrochloride of BU-3608. A solution of the semi-pure material in n-butanol is shaken with alkaline water to transfer the antibiotic to the aqueous phase which is acidified then extracted with an organic solvent such as n-butanol. Evaporation of the n-butanol extract gives purer sample of BU-3608 HCl, a sample of which is dissolved in water and subjected to reversed phase silica gel chromatography. The active fractions are pooled and evaporated to give an aqueous concentrate which is further purified on an adsorption column such as Diaion HP-20 (supplied by Mitsubishi Kasei). The active fractions are concentrated and lyophilized to give substantially pure BU-3608 HCl. The sodium salt is obtained when BU-3608 HCl is treated with 0.1N NaOH. An aqueous solution of the Na salt when adjusted to pH 5.0 deposits the free form of BU-3608.

Scheme II illustrates the isolation of BU-3608 B and BU-3608 C from above-described semi-pure BU-3608 HCl solids. An aqueous solution of the semi-pure material is subjected to reversed phase silica gel chromatography. The fractions eluting before and after the homogeneous BU-3608 fraction are collected and desalted to afford a BU-3608 C rich fraction and a BU-3608 B rich fraction, respectively. Each of these fractions is chromatographed and again desalted to separate BU-3608 and to provide substantially pure BU-3608 B and BU-3608 C. ##STR7##

Scheme III exemplifies one procedure suitable for isolating BU-3608 C from the fermentation broth of Strain Q278-4. Whole fermentation broth is centrifuged to remove insoluble materials. The supernatant is acidified and the precipitate formed discarded. The filtrate is adjusted to pH 5.0, and the precipitate collected and partitioned between an aqueous phase and a water-immiscible organic phase. The organic phase is separated and treated with alkaline water. The aqueous layer, after acidification, is chromatographed on a Diaion HP-20 column to afford crude BU-3608 C containing solids. Reversed phase silica gel chromatography of the complex material followed by further purification on Diaion HP-20 column yields pure BU-3608 C. ##STR8##

BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

The antifungal activities of BU-3608, BU-3608 B, and BU-3608 C were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against various fungi were determined by serial agar and broth dilution methods using Sabouraud dextrose agar and broth. The inoculum size of the test organism was adjusted to 10⁵ CFUs/ml (BU-3608) or 10⁵ -10⁹ CFUs/ml (BU-3608 B and C) in the agar dilution method, and 10⁴ -10⁵ CFUs/ml (BU-3608) or 10⁴ -10⁶ CFUs/ml (BU-3608 B and C) in the broth dilution method. The MIC values recorded after the cultures had been incubated for 48 or 72 hours are set forth below in Tables V and VI.

                  TABLE V                                                          ______________________________________                                         IN VITRO ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF BU-3608 IN                                     SABOURAUD DEXTROSE AGAR AND BROTH                                                                 MIC (μg/ml.sup.1)                                        Test Organism.sup.2) Agar      Broth                                           ______________________________________                                         Candida albicans                                                                              IAM4888   25        --                                          Candida albicans                                                                              A9540     25        6.3                                         Aspergillus fumigatus                                                                         IAM2530   3.1       --                                          Aspergillus fumigatus                                                                         IAM2034   3.1       12.5                                        Trichophyton   D155      >100      --                                          mentagrophytes                                                                 Trichophyton   #4329     25        25 (6.3).sup.3)                             mentagrophytes                                                                 Cryptococcus   D49       0.8       --                                          neoformans                                                                     Cryptococcus   IAM4514   0.8       0.4                                         neoformans                                                                     Aspergillus flavus                                                                            FA21436   1.6       --                                          Piricularia oryzae                                                                            D91       3.1       --                                          Blastomyces dermatitidis                                                                      D40       6.3       --                                          Sporothrix schenckii                                                                          IFO8158   0.8       --                                          Petriellidium boydii                                                                          IFO8073   100       --                                          Mucor spinosus IFO5317   50        --                                          Fusarium moniliforme                                                                          A2284     3.1       --                                          ______________________________________                                          .sup.1) Determined after incubation for 72 hours at 28° C.              .sup.2) Inoculum size: 10.sup.5 CFU/ml for agar dilution and 10.sup.4          -10.sup.5 CFU/ml for broth dilution.                                           .sup.3) Values in parenthesis indicate partial inhibition.               

                                      TABLE VI                                     __________________________________________________________________________     BU-3608 B and C in vitro antifungal activity in Sabouraud                      dextrose agar and broth.                                                                        MIC (μg/ml)*                                                                BU-3608B  BU-3608C                                            Test Organisms**  AGAR                                                                               BROTH                                                                               AGAR                                                                               BROTH                                           __________________________________________________________________________     Candida albicans                                                                            IAM4888                                                                             1.6 --   6.3 --                                              Candida albicans                                                                            A9540                                                                               3.1 3.1 (3.1)                                                                           6.3 6.3 (3.1)                                       Cryptococcus neoformans                                                                     D49  0.8 --   0.8 --                                              Cryptococcus neoformans                                                                     IAM4514                                                                             0.8 1.6  0.8 --                                              Aspergillus  IAM2530                                                                             6.3 --   3.1 --                                              fumigatus                                                                      Aspergillus  IAM2034                                                                             6.3 50 (12.5)                                                                           6.3 6.3 (3.1)                                       fumigatus                                                                      Fusarium moniliforme                                                                        A2284                                                                               >100                                                                               --   6.3 --                                              Piricularia oryzae                                                                          D91  6.3 --   3.1 --                                              Trichophyton D155 6.3 --   3.1 --                                              mentagrophytes                                                                 Trichophyton #4329                                                                               6.3 6.3 (3.1)                                                                           6.3 6.3 (3.1)                                       mentagrophytes                                                                 Sporothrix schenckii                                                                        IFO8158                                                                             3.1 --   1.6 --                                              __________________________________________________________________________      *Determined after incubation for 48-72 hours at 28° C.                  **Inoculum size: 10.sup.4 -10.sup.6 CFU/ml for broth dilution and 10.sup.      -10.sup.9 CFU/ml for agar dilution.                                            Values in parenthesis indicate partial inhibition.                       

In vivo activities of BU-3608, BU-3608 B, and BU-3608 C were tested against Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Cryptococcus neoformans infections in mice. Test organisms were cultured for 18 hours at 28° C. in YGP medium (yeast extract, glucose, peptone, K₂ HPO₄, MgSO₄) and then suspended in saline. Male ICR mice weighing 20 to 24 g were infected intravenously with about 20 times (BU-3608) or 10 times (BU-3608 B and C) the median lethal dose of the test fungi. The antibiotics at various dose levels were administered to groups of 5 mice each either intravenously just after the fungal infection or intramuscularly twice a day on days 0 and 1. The dose that protects 50% of the animals from infection (PD₅₀, mg/kg) was calculated from survival rates recorded on the 20th day after the fungal challenge. All control animals died within 7 to 15 days after infection. Results of the in vivo studies are shown in Table VII.

The methyl and ethyl esters of BU-3608 were also evaluated against C. albicans A9540 infections in mice using the protocol described above. Antibiotics were given b.i.d. on days 0 and 1 and the PD₅₀ values recorded on day 20 are 32 mg/kg/inj. for BU-3608 methyl ester and 16 mg/kg/inj. for BU-3608 ethyl ester. It is postulated that these esters are hydrolyzed in vivo to provide the active parent compound.

                  TABLE VII                                                        ______________________________________                                         In Vivo Antifungal Activity Against C. Albicans, A. Fumigatus                  and C. Neoformans Intravenous Infections In Mice                                         Number of survivors/tested                                                     C. albicans                                                                            A. fumigatus                                                                              C. neoformans                                               A9540   IAM 2034   IAM 4514                                          Compound                                                                               Dose    iv*    im** im**     im**                                      ______________________________________                                         BU-3608 50      5/5    5/5                                                             25      5/5    4/5   4/5      5/5                                              12.5    5/5    3/5   3/5      5/5                                              6.3     2/5    0/5   3/5      5/5                                              3.1     2/5    1/5   0/5      2/5                                              1.6     1/5          0/5      1/5                                      PD.sub.50 (mg/kg/inj)                                                                      7.2    11      5.7      3.5                                        BU-3608B                                                                               50      4/5                                                                    25      3/5    3/5            5/5                                              12.5    3/5    0/5            3/5                                              6.3     0/5    1/5            0/5                                              3.1     0/5    0/5            1/5                                      PD.sub.50 (mg/kg/inj.):                                                                    11     22               11                                         BU-3608C                                                                               55             5/5                                                             28             5/5                                                             14             2/5                                                             6.9            0/5                                                     PD.sub.50 (mg/kg/inj.):                                                                           16                                                          ______________________________________                                          Dose in mg/kg/inj.                                                             *Compounds were administered iv just after fungal challenge.                   **Compounds were administered im b.i.d. on days 0 and 1.                 

The cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction assay was used to evaluate the in vitro antiviral activities of BU-3608 against herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-I) in Vero cells, and influenza virus A in Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. A 200 μl aliquot of cell suspension containing 2×10⁴ cells was placed in each well of the microplate. After incubation at 37° C. for 48-72 hours under humidified 5% CO₂ -95% air atmosphere, the growth medium was drained from the wells and replaced with fresh medium containing the test compound at various doses. For wells designated as virus control, the test compound was omitted from the medium. To each well, except those used for cytotoxicity study, was added 50 μl of growth medium containing the test viruses at a multiplicity of approximately 10 TCID₅₀ (50% tissue culture infective dose). The microplate was incubated for a further 72 hours, after which the degree of inhibition of viral-induced CPE and drug-induced cytotoxicity was determined under a microscope. CPE reduction was expressed as ID₅₀ (50% inhibitory dose) which is defined as the concentration of compound required to reduce CPE by 50% as compared to the control, virus-infected but untreated cell cultures; cytotoxicity is expressed as TD₅₀, the concentration which showed 50% cytotoxicity against Vero or MDCK cells not infected with the viruses. BU-3608 B was similarly evaluated in the influenza A virus-MDCK cell system.

The ID₅₀ values for BU-3608 and BU-3608 B against influenza virus A were 4.4 μg/ml and 8.4 μg/ml, respectively. The TD₅₀ was over 100 μg/ml for both Vero and MDCK cell lines.

The acute toxicity of BU-3608 was determined in mice after single intravenous and intramuscular administrations. LD₅₀ after iv administration was 140 mg/kg; no sign of toxicity was observed after im dose of 400 mg/kg.

For treatment of fungal and viral infections in animals and human beings, the antibiotics of the present invention may be given in an antifungally or an antivirally effective amount by any accepted routes of administration; these include, but are not limited to, intravenous, intramuscular, oral, intranasal, and for superficial infections, topical administration. Preparations for parenteral administration include sterile aqueous or non-aqueous solutions, suspensions or emulsions. They may also be manufactured in the form of sterile solid compositions which can be dissolved in sterile water, physiological saline, or some other sterile injectable medium immediately before use. Oral formulation may be in the form of tablets, gelatin capsules, powders, lozenges, syrups, and the like. For topical administration, the compound may be incorporated into lotions, ointments, gels, creams, salves, tinctures, and the like. Unit dosage forms may be prepared using methods generally known to those skilled in the art of pharmaceutical formulations.

It will be appreciated that when treating a host infected with a virus or fungus susceptible to the antibiotics of this invention, the actual preferred route of administration and dosage used will be at the discretion of the attending clinician skilled in the treatment of fungal or viral infections, and will vary according to the causative organism, its sensitivity to the antibiotic, severity and site of the infection, and patient characteristics such as age, body weight, rate of excretion, concurrent medications, and general physical condition.

The following examples are illustrative without limiting the scope of the present invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Fermentation of BU-3608

(a) Agar slant. Actinomadura hibisca strain P157-2 was grown on a agar slant consisting of

0.5% soluble starch (Nichiden Kagaku Co.)

0.5% glucose

0.1% fish meat extract (Mikuni Kagaku)

0.1% yeast extract (Oriental Yeast Co.)

0.2% NZ case (Sheffield)

0.1% CaCO₃

0.2% NaCl

1.6% agar

The culture was incubated at 28° C. for 7 days.

(b) Seed culture. A portion of the microbial growth from the slant culture was transferred to a 500 ml Erlenmeyer flask containing 100 ml of vegetative medium of the following composition:

1.0% glucose

2.0% soluble starch (Nichiden Kagaku Co.)

0.5% NZ amine A (Sheffield)

0.5% yeast extract (Oriental Yeast Co.)

0.1% CaCO₃

The pH of the medium was adjusted to 7.2 before sterilization. The seed culture was incubated at 28° C. for 4 days on a rotary shaker set at 200 rev. per minute.

(c) Flask fermentation. 5 ml of the microbial growth was transferred from the seed culture to a 500 ml Erlenmeyer flask containing 100 ml of sterile production medium of the following composition:

3.0% glucose

3.0% soybean meal (Nikko Seiyu Co.)

0.5% Pharmamedia (Traders Protein)

0.1% yeast extract (Oriental Yeast Co.)

0.3% CaCO₃

The fermentation was carried out at 28° C. for 5 to 6 days on a rotary shaker. Antibiotic production in the fermentation broth was monitored by broth dilution method using Candida albicans A9540 as the indicator organism in Sabouraud dextrose broth; UV assay at 500 nm in 0.01N NaOH-MeOH (1:1) solution was also used. Antibiotic production reached a maximum at 650 μg/ml on day 5.

(d) Tank fermentation. 3 l of the seed culture was used to inoculate 120 l of sterile production medium contained in a 200 l tank fermentor. The composition of the production medium is the same as that used in flask fermentation. The tank was operated at 28° C. with the agitation rate set at 250 rev. per minute and the aeration rate at 120 l per minute. After 96 hrs of fermentation, an antibiotic potency of 500 μg/ml was obtained, and the pH of the broth was 7.9.

EXAMPLE 2 Isolation and purification of BU-3608

210 l of harvested broth (pH 7.8) was centrifuged and the supernatant was acidified to pH 2.0 with 6N HCl to deposit bio-inactive solid. After the precipitate was removed, the filtrate was adjusted to pH 5.0 with 6N NaOH and the solution was stirred gently for 30 minutes at room temperature. The resultant dark red solid was filtered off and dried in vacuo.

570 g of the solid (purity: 13%) was dissolved in 160 l of n-butanol-methanol-1% NaCl (3:1:4) mixture and the mixture was stirred for 30 minutes. The lower aqueous layer was separated, washed again with 80 l of fresh upper layer, acidified to pH 2.0 with 6N HCl, and then extracted with 100 l of n-butanol. The n-butanol extract was washed with 20 l of water, concentrated in vacuo and lyophilized to yield 100 g of semi-pure BU-3608 hydrochloride (purity: 64%). A solution of the solid in 100 l of n-butanol was shaken with 100 l of alkaline water (pH 9.0). The aqueous layer was acidified to pH 2.0 and washed with 100 l of ethyl acetate. Extraction with 95 l of n-butanol followed by evaporation of the solvent gave 52.1 g of purer BU-3608 HCl (purity: 82%).

2.0 g of the antibiotic was subjected to reversed phase silica gel chromatography (ODS-60, 350/250 mesh, Yamamura Chemical Lab., column 4.5×90 cm). The sample was dissolved in 60 ml of water and applied on the column which had been equilibrated with a mixture of acetonitrile-0.15% KH₂ PO₄ (pH 3.5)=17:83 (v/v). The column was washed sequentially with 5 l each of acetonitrile-0.15% KH₂ PO₄ mixture of the following ratios: 17:83, 18:82, 19:81, 20:80, and then developed with the same solvent mixture of a 22:78 ratio. The eluate was collected in 100 ml fractions which were monitored by the microplate assay using C. albicans A9540 and thin-layer chromatography (SiO₂, methyl acetate-n-propanol-28% ammonium hydroxide=45:105:60 v/v). The fractions containing the main homogeneous compound were combined and concentrated in vacuo to evaporate the organic solvent. The aqueous solution was loaded on a column of Diaion HP-20 (Mitsubishi Kasei, 8.0×25 cm), washed with 5 l of water, and then developed with 60% acidic aqueous acetone (pH 3.0) to elute the activity. Concentration of the active eluate followed by lyophilization yielded 1.64 g of red homogeneous solid of BU-3608 HCl (purity: 97%).

A solution of 1.6 g of BU-3608 HCl in 50 ml of 0.1N NaOH was diluted with 100 ml of n-propanol and 25 ml of methyl acetate. The mixture was kept in a refrigerator (5° C.) for three days to deposit fine needles of BU-3608 monosodium salt (1.43 g, purity: 99%). 100 mg of the sodium salt was dissolved in 20 ml of water and the solution adjusted to pH 5.0 with 1N HCl. The precipitate was filtered off and washed with cold water to give 91 mg of BU-3608 free form.

EXAMPLE 3 Isolation and purification of BU-3608 B and BU-3608 C.

In the reversed phase silica gel chromatography procedure described in Example 2, the fractions eluting before and after the main homogeneous BU-3608 fraction were pooled. The combined eluate was desalted using HP-20 resin to afford a BU-3608 B-containing solid and a BU-3608 C-containing solid.

The BU-3608 B-containing solid (2.86 g) was dissolved in 200 ml of water and applied on a column of ODS-60 (Yamamura Chem. Lab. 8.0×90 cm) which had been thoroughly washed with a 22:78 (v/v) mixture of acetonitrile-0.15% KH₂ PO₄ (pH 3.5). This same solvent mixture was used to elute the loaded column and fractions were collected and examined by HPLC. Fractions containing BU-3608 B were pooled, concentrated in vacuo, and desalted by HP-20 resin chromatography to yield impure BU-3608 (373 mg), pure BU-3608 (1.34 g) and BU-3608 B (66 mg). BU-3608 B was further purified by preparative HPLC using a Microsorb Short One C₁₈ column (4.6 mm I.D.×100 mm, 3 μm, Rainin Instrument Co.), and elution was carried out using 29:71 (v/v) mixture of acetonitrile-0.15% KH₂ PO₄ (pH 3.5).

The BU-3608 C-containing solid (990 mg) was purified in a similar fashion using the ODS column with elution by a 21:79 (v/v) mixture of acetonitrile-0.15% KH₂ PO₄ (pH 3.5). HPLC was used to monitor the eluate and fractions containing BU-3608 C were pooled and concentrated in vacuo. The resultant aqueous solution was desalted by HP-20 chromatography to yield nearly pure BU-3608 C (123 mg), and nearly pure BU-3608 (618 mg).

EXAMPLE 4 Preparation of BU-3608 B from BU-3608.

BU-3608 hydrochloride (944 mg) was refluxed in 60 ml of 1.5N methanolic HCl for 4 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled and diluted with 200 ml of water. The solution was extracted with n-BuOH three times (100 ml each), and the extracts were combined and evaporated in vacuo to give the crude methyl ester of BU-3608 B (864 mg). The crude methyl ester (430 mg) was subjected to reversed phase silica gel chromatography (LiChoprep RP-18, 40-63 μ, E. Merck column 4.0 cm I.D.×45 cm). The column was developed with a mixture of acetonitrile and 0.15% KH₂ PO₄ adjusted to pH 3.5 by the addition of H₃ PO₄ (40:60, v/v). Fractionation of the eluate was monitored by HPLC [Column: Microsorb Short One C₁₈, 4.6 mm I.D.×100 mm, 3 μm, Rainin Instrument Detection: UV (254 nm), Rt, methyl ester of BU-3608 B: 4.45 min., BU-3608: 2.03 min.]. Fractions containing the methyl ester of BU-3608 B were pooled and concentrated in vacuo to remove acetonitrile. The concentrate was charged on a column of Diaion HP-20 (200 ml) to desalt. The column was washed with water (500 ml) and eluted with 80% aqueous acetone adjusted to pH 3 by 1N HCl. Evaporation of the eluate yielded BU-3608 B methyl ester hydrochloride (144 mg). This chromatographic procedure may be repeated for further purification.

The hydrochloride of BU-3608 B methyl ester (230 mg) was dissolved in 30 ml of 0.1N NaOH, and the solution was refluxed for one hour. The resulting solution was acidified to pH 3.0 with 1N HCl, and desalted by HP-20 resin chromatography to yield BU-3608 B hydrochloride (220 mg).

EXAMPLE 5 Fermentation of BU-3608 C using actinomycete strain No. Q278-4.

Strain Q278-4 was grown on a slant of modified Bennett's agar medium which consisted of

0.5% glucose

0.1% fish extract (Mikuni)

0.1% yeast extract (Oriental Yeast)

0.5% NZ case (Sheffield)

0.2% NaCl

0.1% CaCO₃

1.6% agar

The slant culture was incubated at 28° C. for 7 days.

A loopful of the slant culture was inoculated in a seed medium having the same composition as the slant culture except that agar was omitted. The seed culture was incubated at 28° C. for 4 days on a rotary shaker (200 rpm), after which time, 5 ml of the seed culture was transferred to a 500 ml Erlenmeyer flask containing 100 ml of a fermentation medium consisted of;

2% soluble starch

1% Pharmamedia

0.5% CaCO₃

0.15% (NH₄)₂ SO₄

The fermentation was carried out on a rotatory shaker (200 rpm) at 28° C. for 7 days. Antibiotic production in the fermentation broth was monitored by the broth dilution method using Candida albicans A9540 in Sabouraud dextrose broth. UV and HPLC assays were also employed. Antibiotic production reached a maximum on day 6 with approximately 160 μg/ml of BU-3608 C and approximately 240 μg/ml of BU-3608.

When the production medium was changed from 2% starch, 1% Pharmamedia, 0.5% CaCO₃, and 0.15% (NH₄)₂ SO₄ to the production medium for strain P157-2 (Example 1, 3% glucose, 3% soybean meal, 0.5% Pharmamedia, 0.1% yeast extract, and 0.3% CaCO₃), the major product of the fermentation was BU-3608 with only a small amount of BU-3608 C produced.

EXAMPLE 5 Isolation and purification of BU-3608 C from Q278-4 fermentation.

10.5 L of the harvested fermentation broth was centrifuged to remove the mycelial cake. The supernatant (10.0 l, pH 8.3) was acidified to pH 2.0 with the addition of 6N HCl and the resultant precipitate was filtered off. The filtrate was adjusted to pH 5.0 using 6N NaOH, and kept cool for two hours. The dark red precipitate was collected by filtration and then dissolved in 3 l of n-butanolmethanol-1% aqueous NaCl solution (3:1:4, pH 2.0). After the mixture was stirred for 30 minutes at room temperature, the organic layer was separated and extracted with two 500 ml portions of alkaline water (pH 8.0). The combined aqueous layer (1.5 l) was concentrated to 700 ml in vacuo, adjusted to pH 2.0, and applied to a column of Diaion HP-20 (300 ml). After the column was washed with 1.5 l of water, the active products were eluted with 60% aqueous acetone (pH 3.0). The red, active eluate was concentrated to afford an amorphous solid (900 mg) which, as determined by HPLC, contained BU-3608 C as a main component along with BU-3608 and other minor components.

The complex solid (880 mg) was applied to a reversed phase silica gel column (5.0 l YMC GEL ODS 60, Yamamura Chem. Lab.) which had been equilibrated with a 21:79 (v/v) mixture of acetonitrile-0.15% KH₂ PO₄ (pH 3.5). The same solvent system was used to elute the column and the eluate was collected in 1 l fractions. Active fractions were assayed by HPLC (Microsorb Short One C₁₈ column, 4.6 mm I.D. x 100 mm, 3 μm, Rainin Instrument Co.; 29:71 (v/v) mixture of acetonitrile-0.15% KH₂ PO₄ (pH 3.5) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.2 ml/min.; UV absorption at 245 nm as detection). Fractions containing BU-3608 C were pooled and concentrated in vacuo. The aqueous concentrate was loaded on a column of HP-20 resin, washed with water and eluted with aqueous acetone (pH 3.0). Evaporation of solvent from the eluate yielded BU-3608 C as red amorphous solid (227 mg, purity ≧98%).

EXAMPLE 6 Preparation of BU-3608 esters Procedure 1

To a stirred solution of BU-3608 hydrochloride (290 mg) in 50 ml of ethanol was added dropwise 3 ml of thionyl chloride at 0° C. The stirring was continued for one hour at 0° C. and then for an additional two hours at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated to dryness in vacuo and the residue was chromatographed on a reversed phase silica gel column (ODS-60, Yamamura Chemical Lab. 2.0×32 cm). Elution was carried out using a step gradient starting with acetonitrile-0.15% KH₂ PO₄ buffer pH 3.5 (2:8) and ending with the ratio of 5:5. The fractions containing the desired product were pooled, concentrated in vacuo and desalted using a Diaion HP-20 column. The column was washed with water and then eluted with 80% aqueous acetone (pH 3.0 by 6N HCl). Concentration of the red eluate yielded 263 mg of BU-3608 ethyl ester hydrochloride. M.p. 218°-221° C. (dec.).

BU-3608 hydrochloride (150 mg) was similarly reacted in 25 ml of methanol and the reaction product was purified as described above to yield BU-3608 methyl ester hydrochloride (137 mg). M.p. 236°-239° C. (dec.).

Similarly, BU-3608 cyclohexyl ester hydrochloride (54 mg) was obtained from BU-3608 hydrochloride (280 mg), cyclohexanol (13 ml) and thionyl chloride (2.5 ml). M.p. 206°-08° C. (dec.).

Procedure 2

To a solution of BU-3608 hydrochloride (82 mg) in dimethyl sulfoxide (1 ml) was added 2 ml of n-octanol followed by 1 ml of thionyl chloride at 0° C. The reaction mixture was worked up as described in Procedure 1 to give BU-3608 n-octyl ester hydrochloride (74 mg) after purification. M.p. 189°-192° C. (dec.).

n-Butyl ester of BU-3608 (488 mg) was similarly prepared from BU-3608 hydrochloride (550 mg), 5 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide and 15 ml of n-butanol. M.p. 208°-210° C. (dec.).

EXAMPLE 7 Preparation of AG-2 from BU-3608.

BU-3608 (6.3 g) in 275 ml of 6N hydrochloric acid was heated at 115° C. for 14 hours in a sealed container. The mixture was cooled to room temperature. The precipitate was collected by filtration and then dissolved in alkaline water (pH 11). The solution was adjusted to pH 6.0, and the resultant precipitate was filtered off and charged on a column of Diaion HP-20 (2.6 l). The column was washed with water and eluted with 60% acetone. Lyophilization of the red eluate yielded 3.7 g of semi-pure AG-2. The sample was purified by Sephadex LH-20 chromatography (3.6 l) using 50% methanol as eluant to afford homogeneous AG-2 (3.2 g) as a red powder, m.p. 221°-223° C. (dec.).

MS (negative FAB): m/z 550 (M+H)⁻

¹ H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm: 1.33 (3H,d,J=7.3), 2.29 (3H,s), 3.90 (3H,s), 4.29 (1H,qui,J=7.3), 4.18 (2H,br-s), 5.56 (1H,br-s)*, 5.74 (1H,br-s)*, 6.71 (1H,d,J=2.2), 6.85 (1H,s), 7.11 (1H,d,J=2.2), 7.78 (1H,s), 8.41 (1H,d,J=7.2)*, 13.23 (1H,s)*, 14.87 (1H,br-s)*.

¹³ C NMR (100 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm: 17.4, 19.8, 47.9, 55.7, 71.6, 72.5, 103.9, 105.7, 110.2, 110.7, 114.9, 118.5, 118.6, 125.9, 131.8, 133.3, 136.2, 137.9, 140.5, 145.3, 157.1, 163.8, 165.5, 166.8, 168.1, 174.2, 180.2, 187.2.

Preparation of AG-2 methyl ester

AG-2(431 mg) was refluxed for 16 hours in 1.5N methanolic hydrogen chloride. The solution was evaporated in vacuo to dryness which was washed twice with 100 ml each of cold methanol. The insoluble AG-2 methyl ester was collected by filtration and dried in vacuo. Yield 402 mg. M.P. 210°-215° C. (dec.). MS(negative FAB): m/z 564(M+H)⁻

EXAMPLE 8 Preparation of BU-3608 from AG-2 methyl ester.

(1) To a stirred mixture of AG-2 methyl ester (5.63 g, 10 mmol), tetrabutylammonium hydrogensulfate (12 mg) and powdered NaOH (1 g) in dioxane (100 ml) is added dropwise a solution of acetyl chloride (2.83 g, 36 mmol) in dioxane (10 ml) over 30 min at room temperature. The mixture is filtered, washed with dioxane, evaporated and dried to give a residue. Chromatography of the residue on a column of silica gel using chloroform-methanol (4:1) as an eluant yields 1,9,14-tri-O-acetyl AG-2 methyl ester.

(2) To a solution of 2-O-acetyl-3-O-(2,3,4-tri-O-acetylxylopyranosyl)-4-(N-tert-butoxycarbonyl)methylamino-4,6-dideoxygalactose (347 mg, 0.6 mmol) and pyridine (48 mg, 0.6 mmol) in dry toluene (7 ml) is added thionyl chloride (91 mg, 0.6 mmol) at 5° C. The reaction mixture is kept at room temperature for 2 hrs and then filtered. The filtrate is washed with 0.2M phosphate buffer (pH 7) and then brine, dried over MgSO₄, concentrated and dried to afford a glassy solid. The solid is dissolved in dry methylene chloride (1 ml) and the solution was added to a stirred mixture of 1,9,14-tri-O-acetyl-AG-2 methyl ester (66.6 mg, 0.1 mmol), silver carbonate (200 mg), silver perchlorate (20 mg) and molecular sieves 3A (200 mg) in methylene chloride (3 ml). The reaction mixture is refluxed for 48 hrs in the dark under dry nitrogen atmosphere, filtered through a column of silica gel (3×3 cm) and washed throughly with a mixture of chloroform-methanol (4:1). The filtrate and washings are combined and solvent is evaporated to give an oil, which is acetylated with acetic anhydride (1 ml) in pyridine (7 ml) at room temperature for 18 hrs. The reaction mixture is poured on crushed ice and extracted with chloroform. The extracts are washed thoroughly with 0.4M KHSO₄ and brine, dried over MgSO₄, concentrated and dried to afford a solid. Column chromatography of the solid on silica gel using chloroform-ethanol (10:1) as an eluant yields octa-O-acetyl-N-tert-butoxycarbonyl BU-3608.

(3) To a solution of octa-O-acetyl-N-tert-butoxycarbonyl BU-3608 (55 mg, 0.05 mmol) in dioxane (3 ml) is added 0.1M Ba(OH)₂ (3 ml) dropwise at 50° C. over 1 hr. The reaction mixture is neutralized with 0.1M H₂ SO₄ (pH 7), filtered and washed with dioxane. The filtrate and washings are combined and evaporated to dryness. The resulting powder is dissolved in trifluoroacetic acid (2 ml) and kept at room temperature for 1 hr. The solvent is evaporated and the residue is purified by column chromatography on octadecyl silicate (ODS, 10 ml) using as eluant a mixture of 0.15M phosphate buffer (pH 3.5) and CH₃ CN (78:22) followed by HP-20 (5 ml) using 80% acetone as eluant to afford BU-3608.

If the procedure described in Steps (2)-(3) above is followed using the aminosugars listed below in place of 2-O-acetyl-3O-(2,3,4-tri-O-acetylxylopyranosyl)-4-(N-tert-b-utoxycarbonyl)methylamino-4,6-dideoxygalactose, the corresponding glycosides are obtained.

2-O-acetyl-3-O-(2,3,4-tri-O-acetylxylopyranosyl)-4-(N-tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino-4,6-dideoxygalactose

2,3-di-O-acetyl-4-(N-tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino-4-deoxyglucose

2,3-di-O-acetyl-4-(N-tert-butoxycarbonyl)methylamino-4,6-dideoxygalactose

2,3-di-O-acetyl-4-(N-tert-butoxycarbonyl)methylamino-4,6-dideoxyglucose 

What is claimed is:
 1. An intermediate having the formula ##STR9## or a salt thereof, or an ester thereof. 